National Lottery: Historic Buildings

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria are used to assess applications for Lottery funding for renovations to historical buildings.

Andy Burnham: The Heritage Lottery Fund assesses all applications against its strategic aims. In addition, the Heritage Lottery Fund considers project planning and delivery, projects costs and partnership funding, long-term viability and value for money.

Sports

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to encourage people to undertake sporting activity for at least 30 minutes a day.

Andy Burnham: As part of our policy to create a world leading sporting nation, the Government wants to engage a million more people in regular sport participation—a 30 minute session of sport three times a week—which represents a crucial plank of our legacy commitment to get 2 million people more active by 2012. On 10 June 2008, Sport England launched its new strategy which will create a world leading community sports system across England.
	Departmental and lottery funding to promote and invest in community and grassroots sports is allocated via Sport England. Since the creation of the lottery over £2 billion has been invested by Sport England into community sport. In addition over the last six financial years (ending 2007-08) Sport England has also invested over £338 million exchequer funding directly into community sport.

Elections

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the Electoral Commission's recommendation that changes to electoral law and regulation should not be introduced or commenced within the six months prior to an election.

Michael Wills: The Electoral Commission's report "Electoral administration in the United Kingdom", published in August 2008, said (paragraph 6.34):
	"Both the UK and Scottish governments should ensure that changes to legislation that has an impact on the administration of elections are not applied to any election or electoral registration event held within six months of the new provision coming into force, other than in limited circumstances in which changes may be beneficial, including instances where electors' interests are clearly at issue or where minor technical amendments are required."
	This recommendation supports made by Sir Ron Gould following his examination of the administration of the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local elections. The Government agree with the principle that legislation affecting the administration of elections should be in force in good time, but recognise the Commission's suggestion that there may be instances where legislation supporting the administration of elections may be necessary within the months preceding a poll.

Magistrates Courts: ICT

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many magistrates' courts have access to full Libra functionality; and when he expects all magistrates' courts to have such access.

Maria Eagle: 243 out of approximately 370 magistrates courts are now operating with full Libra functionality. Libra will be deployed to all magistrates courts in England and Wales by the end of December 2008.

Prisons: Crime

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of  (a) a sexual nature other than sexual assault,  (b) sexual assault,  (c) violence,  (d) theft and  (e) other offences occurred in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many of these incidents were (i) prisoner on prisoner, (ii) prisoner on staff and (iii) staff on prisoner.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	 Incidents of a sexual nature other than sexual assault
	Data are only available centrally in the category 'sexual assaults'. No further breakdown is available.
	 Incidents of sexual assault
	The following table summarises the numbers of sexual assault incidents. These will include some unproven allegations. A small number refer to incidents that may have occurred before prison custody.
	
		
			   Prisoner on prisoner  Prisoner on officer  Prisoner on other  Other  Total 
			 1998(1) 62 13 0 4 79 
			 1999(1) 76 15 4 1 96 
			 2000(1) 82 15 9 9 115 
			 2001(1) 69 11 13 7 100 
			 2002 112 14' 10 6 142 
			 2003 92 18 15 6 131 
			 2004 102 20 15 6 143 
			 2005 87 22 12 18 139 
			 2006 93 27 9 18 147 
			 2007 103 17 10 5 135 
			 (1) Due to improved recording over the years, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not directly comparable with those from later years.  Notes: 1. The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories: Prisoner on Prisoner, Prisoner on Officer, Prisoner on Other and Other (i.e. non-prisoner perpetrators). 2. The 'Prisoner on Officer' and 'Prisoner on Other' categories mostly refer to sexual assaults on staff however the latter category may include some non staff victims for example visitors. 3. The 'Other' category includes assaults or allegations of assault by non prisoners including any by staff, visitors etc. 
		
	
	 Incidents of violence
	Central data do not use the collective term 'violence' therefore assault data have been provided. Assault data are complex and may include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids, other non-contact incidents and allegations. Information on assault incidents may involve more than one assailant or more than one victim. In a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
	The information is set out as follows but is subject to important qualifications. The Prison Service Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide an indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories: Prisoner on Prisoner, Prisoner on Officer, Other (i.e. non-prisoner perpetrators) and Prisoner on Other. The recorded incidents of assaults on prison officers are not completely exclusive to officers; establishment recording sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff, i.e. non-uniform staff in this category.
	
		
			   Prisoner on prisoner  Prisoner on officer  Prisoner on other  Other  Total 
			 1998(1) 3,814 1,589 108 89 5,600 
			 1999(1) 5,459 1,867 133 93 7,552 
			 2000(1) 7,192 1,929 147 149 9,417 
			 2001(1) 7,941 2,378 199 151 10,669 
			 2002 8,701 2,503 170 133 11,507 
			 2003 8,957 2,522 187 151 11,817 
			 2004 9,417 2,763 215 149 12,544 
			 2005 10,887 3,091 201 217 14,396 
			 2006 11,526 3,125 197 199 15,047 
			 2007 11,991 2,870 208 156 15,225 
			 (1) Due to improved recording over the years, particularly for fighting, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not directly comparable with those from later years.  Note: A small number of unclassified assault incidents have been excluded from this table. 
		
	
	Separate data on staff on prisoner assaults are not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 Incidents of theft and other offences occurring in prisons in England and Wales
	There is no disciplinary offence of "theft" under the Prison Rules, but the following table show the number of offences by prisoners under Prison Rule 51(5) "takes improperly any article belonging to another person or to a prison" punished at adjudications in prisons in England and Wales from 1999 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	These figures, based on adjudication data, have been extracted from Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1999-2002, and the Offender Management Caseload Statistics (OMCS) 2003-2006. The OMCS for 2006 and supplementary tables are available on the Ministry of Justice website at
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	where links to earlier publications may also be found. The OMCS do not include information on whether articles were taken from other prisoners or from staff, nor on the number of cases that may have been dealt with by the police (which would normally include those where the theft was accompanied by the use or threat of serious violence, or a weapon), nor those where the disciplinary charge was not proven.
	The table also shows the number of "other" offences punished at adjudication, which has been calculated by subtracting the total number of violent offences (including all assaults, detaining another person, and fighting) and offences of "taking improperly" from the total of all offences for each year.
	
		
			   Taking improperly  Other offences 
			 1999 942 88,214 
			 2000 811 88,464 
			 2001 903 90,559 
			 2002 829 87,822 
			 2003 633 88,470 
			 2004 565 90,784 
			 2005 604 91,913 
			 2006 648 87,381 
			
			 Total 5,935 713,607 
		
	
	 Staff on prisoner
	Information on theft and other offences committed by staff on prisoner is not collected centrally.

Carbon

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the carbon price on page seven of the Financial Impact Assessment, if set at the optimal level, differs from the Shadow price of carbon set out on page 20.

Phil Woolas: The Shadow Price of Carbon (SPC) set out on page 20 of the Climate Change Bill: Final Impact Assessment is taken from DEFRA's cross-departmental guidance (published December 2007) on how to value the impact of Government policies on greenhouse gas emissions. The SPC captures the costs of climate change that are associated with each additional tonne of emissions, and is consistent with the carbon price referred on page 7—at the highest stabilisation level within the Stern Review's recommended range.
	The guidance adopting the SPC as the basis for valuing these impacts was fully informed by the Stern Review's estimates of the cost of climate change. Under this approach, the SPC depends upon the expected costs of climate change, and consequently upon the emissions trajectory that the world is expected to move onto and the eventual stabilisation level that is expected. The value of the SPC used reflects the highest potential costs of climate change under the Stern Review's recommended stabilisation range of 450-550 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalent, in order to ensure that the UK is taking sufficient action to help us to achieve this stabilisation range.
	DEFRA is currently reviewing the SPC, as committed to in the December 2007 publication. The scope of this review is to consider the case for moving to an SPC that is consistent with the marginal abatement cost that would be required to reach the UK's targets, rather than the current damage cost based approach. This review is ongoing.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it  (a) rents and  (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether his Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all buildings that it owns and to work with landlords to improve the energy efficiency of those buildings which it rents.
	The Department has signed up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme and in 2007, became the first department to gain the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme award for its core department and executive agencies. This standard measures improvement in energy efficiency in 19 specific areas and is widely recognised as an industry standard in measuring efficiency gains.
	DEFRA is currently producing benchmarks for its sites using the CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) TM22 Energy Assessment and Reporting Methodology. This supports the roll out of display energy certificates which is required for all public buildings over 1000m(2).

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: A full list of public consultations published by DEFRA since 27 June 2007 to 18 July 2008 (a total of 86) is set out as follows. All public consultations published by the Department since January 2006 are available on the DEFRA website:
	www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/default.asp.
	My Department does not hold information centrally on the reviews that it undertakes. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Date  Consultation 
			 28 June 2007 Consultation on the interpretation of the definition of municipal waste used in the Landfill Allowance Trading scheme 
			 3 July 2007 Consultation on implementation of part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 
			 11 July 2007 Wildlife health strategy 
			 18 July 2007 Consultation on the Fourth Environmental Permitting Programme 
			 18 July 2007 Consultation on Salmonella in laying flocks 
			 19 July 2007 Consultation on DEFRA's Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases 
			 25 July 2007 Consultation on the implementation options for the transfer of private sewers to water and sewerage companies 
			 27 July 2007 Consultation on the Soil Framework Directive 
			 1 August 2007 Consultation on the implementation of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, and the establishment of a UK Pollutant Release and Transfer Register 
			 3 August 2007 Consultation on energy services directive 
			 13 August 2007 Consultation on "Recycle on the GO" 
			 15 August 2007 Consultation on UK report regarding plans and programmes to meet EU air quality limit values (reporting year 2005) 
			 17 August 2007 Consultation on Commission Proposal to recast Directive 92/34 on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and plants 
			 21 August 2007 Consultation on Catchment Sensitive farming/nitrates and diffuse water pollution—three consultations to be launched 
			 7 September 2007 Consultation on statutory measures to protect areas of Lyme Bay 
			 10 September 2007 Consultation on a draft second edition of IPPC SG6 for A2 activities in the Solvents sector 
			 19 September 2007 Consultation on a licensing scheme for the sale and purchase of non-compliant paints for use on historic buildings and vintage vehicles 
			 5 October 2007 Consultation on LA Environmental Regulation of Industrial Plant: 2008-09 Fees and Charges 
			 8 October 2007 Consultation on packaging targets 
			 10 October 2007 Consultation on Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 
			 7 November 2007 Consultation on double tagging of sheep and goat 
			 8 November 2007 Consultations on amendment to Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and Orders to ban the sale of certain non-native species 
			 12 November 2007 Consultation on the implementation of the revised Bathing Water Directive 
			 12 October 2007 Consultation on amendments to mutilations regulations (England) 2007 
			 12 October 2007 Consultation on a system of Administrative penalties for fisheries offences 
			 13 October 2007 Consultation on possible changes of use of personal data held on the GB Poultry register 
			 16 October 2007 Consultation on Third Sector 
			 19 November 2007 Consultation on the merger of PSD into HSE 
			 6 December 20Q7 Consultation on recreational sea angling 
			 11 December 2007 Consultation on Cost Sharing and Responsibility Sharing 
			 13 December 2007 Consultation on energy services directive Article 5 
			 19 December 2007 Consultation on Aquatic Animal Health Directive transposition 
			 19 December 2007 Consultation on the recommendations of the Climate Change Simplification project 
			 20 December 2007 Consultation on Options for Implementing the Batteries Directive 
			 21 December 2007 Consultation on auction design for Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme 
			 31 December 2007 Consultation on Spirits regulations 
			 31 December 2007 Consultation on Scotch Whisky regulations 
			 9 January 2008 Consultation on proposal of 2 per cent. milk quotas 
			 14 January 2008 Consultation on national listing and plant breeders' Right fees 
			 7 February 2008 Consultation on Surface Water Management 
			 7 February 2008 Consultation on guidance to Ofwat 
			 7 February 2008 Consultation on Phosphates in detergents—laundry 
			 17 January 2008 Consultation on mining waste Directive (CLG led) 
			 21 January 2008 Consultation on Sustainable products 
			 4 February 2008 consultation on charging for CITES licences 
			 30 January 2008 Consultation on the future of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability fund April 2008 to March 2011 
			 25 February 2008 Consultation on river basin planning (volume) 
			 27 February 2008 Consultation on the transposition of Council Directive 2006/117/Euratom 
			 29 February 2008 Consultation on Implementation of Fruit and Vegetable Reforms 
			 29 February 2008 Consultation on Environmental Liability Directive: 2nd consultation 
			 7 March 2008 Consultation on European Fisheries Fund: UK Operational programme (1st phase) 
			 7 March 2008 Consultation on measures to protect the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC) from the impacts of fishing with dredges and other towed gear 
			 7 March 2008 Consultation on Statutory Notification Requirements for Potatoes Introduced into England and Wales from other EU member states 
			 17 March 2008 Consultation on joint Waste Authorities 
			 18 March 2008 Consultation on Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007; Directive 2004/12/EC (amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste) 
			 20 March 2008 Consultation on the remaking of the Drinking Milk Regulations 
			 31 March 2008 Consultation on Soil Strategy for England 
			 3 April 2008 Consultation on TSE Regulations 2007 
			 3 April 2008 Consultation draft Marine Bill 
			 8 April 2008 Consultation on the strategy of health of honey bees 
			 2 May 2008 Consultation on European Fisheries Fund: UK Operational programme (2nd phase) 
			 7 May 2008 Consultation on the EU Commission's proposals to amend the EU ETS from 2013 
			 9 May 2008 Consultation on the remaking of Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2008 
			 14 May 2008 Consultation on draft AQEG report: Ozone in the United Kingdom 
			 14 May 2008 Consultation on EPAQS report: guidelines for metals and metalloids in ambient air for the protection of human health 
			 14 May 2008 Consultation on EPAQS report: Addendum to Guidelines for halogen and hydrogen halides in ambient air for protecting human health against acute irritancy effects 
			 28 May 2008 Consultation on Groundwater Regulations 
			 29 May 2008 Consultation on the European Commission's proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Recast)—Intensive livestock 
			 29 May 2008 Consultation on the European Commission's proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Recast) 
			 29 May 2008 Consultation on the European Commission's proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Recast)—Combustion Plants 
			 2 June 2008 Consultation on REACH Enforcement 
			 2 June 2008 Consultation on Dangerous wild animals Act 1976—reform order 
			 6 June 2008 Consultation on the European Commission's proposed Directive on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)(Recast)—emissions 
			 9 June 2008 Consultation on CAP Health checks 
			 13 June 2008 Consultation on Wine SI 2008 
			 16 June 2008 Consultation on Sector Guidance Note SG8: Rendering 
			 12 June 2008 Consultation on White Paper—Radioactive waste 
			 13 June 2008 Consultation on the 2nd consultation on Waste crime 
			 18 June 2008 Consultation on revised UK Strategy for Radioactive waste discharge limits 2006-30 
			 23 June 2008 Consultation on Revised Membership Arrangements for Northumberland National Park Authority 
			 30 June 2008 Consultation on Wildlife Management strategy 
			 30 June 2008 Consultation on Our Seas: A Shared Resource 
			 1 July 2008 Consultation on Beef and Veal Labelling 
			 4 July 2008 Consultation on Air Quality guidance 
			 11 July 2008 Consultation on proposed Regulations—further implementation measures—fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances 
			 15 July 2008 Consultation on Phytopthora Ramorem and Phytophthora kemoviae

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many sick days were taken by employees in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of sick days taken this represented in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility who gave (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on sickness absences in 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the DEFRA and its agencies can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	All three illnesses are grouped together as 'Mental and Behavioural Disorders'.
	Data for 2007-08 are not yet available but will be published later in the year.
	Data for years prior to 2004 is not held electronically and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Data on sickness absence in DEFRA's NDPBs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to increase the proportion of allowances auctioned under Phase II of the Emissions Trading Scheme to 10 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Government have given careful consideration of whether the level of auctioned allowances in the current phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme should be raised from the 7 per cent. set out in the UK's National Allocation Plan to the maximum 10 per cent. permitted under the Directive. They have concluded that it would be better to maintain certainty for business about the UK's previously published National Allocation Plan and not seek to reopen allocation issues consulted on and determined in 2006.
	As part of the Government's climate change strategy, we are aiming in the longer term to move towards more auctioning of allowances, and Budget 2008 announced the Government's intention to auction 100 per cent. of all allowances in the large electricity producers' sector.

Flood Control: Fees and Charges

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with OFWAT on the imposition of surface drainage charges on churches, schools and hospitals.

Phil Woolas: While my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment (Hilary Benn) holds regular meetings with Ofwat to discuss a range of issues, there have been no discussions about this issue specifically.
	I have had a number of meetings with stakeholders but not with Ofwat.

Flood Control: Rural Areas

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have been put in place to ensure that rural areas affected by floods in 2007 will receive resources and assistance to establish effective flood resilience.

Phil Woolas: The Government takes a risk based approach to the management of flood risk, prioritising investments on the basis of the risk faced by the community and not whether it has recently experienced a flooding event. This is an approach which was supported by Sir Michael Pitt's independent review of the 2007 summer floods.
	DEFRA has been working continuously, in conjunction with other Government Departments and agencies, to reduce the risk of flooding throughout England.

Rural Areas: Motor Vehicles

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will develop policies to assist rural motorists who have no alternative to car transport in areas where petrol prices are particularly high.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary (Angela Eagle) on 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1478W.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what vessel monitoring systems data has been used in assessing the levels of fishing in proposed offshore Special Areas of Conservation sites; when that assessment took place; and if he will publish the data.

Jonathan R Shaw: As part of public consultation the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in their draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations considered the levels of fishing in possible offshore SACs using VMS data from 2004 for England and Wales published in:
	Eastwood, P. D., Mills, C. M., Aldridge, J. N., Houghton, C. A., and Rogers, S. I. 2007. "Human activities in UK offshore waters: an assessment of direct, physical pressure on the seabed". ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 453-463

Departmental Postal Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007 and currently monitors the cost of mail services according to the policies put in place by its predecessor Departments,—the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Children, Schools and Families—DCSF) and Department for Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform—BERR), DIUS is a relatively small volume sender of mail and sends second class unless there is a business need for first class delivery

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007; it comprises higher and further education (from the former Department for Education, Schools and Families, now the Department for Children Schools and Families-DCSF) and science and innovation (from the former Department for Trade and Industry, now Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform—BERR).
	To date, DIUS has been split between BERR and DCSF. DIUS therefore currently rely on the Euro changeover plan of BERR and DCSF. The DCSF Euro changeover plan is currently being reviewed and updated to take account of the machinery of government change in June 2007 and changes in the delivery of corporate systems over the next nine to 12 months. A copy of the completed document will be placed in the Library when this work is completed.
	DIUS agency, NWML provided information to the former DTI in October 2004 and this formed part of their Euro preparations, A more detailed plan was performed in March 2000 which formed part of HM Treasury Euro changeover plan.
	DIUS agency, UK-IPO) last updated its Euro conversion plan in September 2004 and it formed part of the DTI overall plan. The plan has not been published, given the time that has lapsed, while the principles are still relevant the legislation, IT systems and costs referred to are significantly out of date and publication would be of trifle value.
	With the advent of a shared service arrangement, a single system will be in place.

Lip Reading: Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of lipreading classes were provided free to learners in each year since 2004-05; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: In 2004-05, 473 adult learners undertook a further education (FE) lip-reading course funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). 81 per cent. of these learners paid no fee due either to national policy or by having their fees waived at the discretion of the provider.
	Information on the number of lip-reading learners receiving fee remission for 2005-06 and 2006-07 is not available centrally. I have therefore asked Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council to write with this information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Full fee remission is provided to learners on LSC funded FE courses where they are in receipt of income based benefits or are studying on a Skills for Life, full level 2 or full level 3 course (if they are aged 19-25). In addition to this some FE colleges and providers can use their discretion to waive fees. They may choose to do so where a learner is undertaking a lip-reading course and has declared themselves as having a learning difficulty and/or disabilities for example where a learner is hearing impaired.

Drugs: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Pooled Drug Treatment budget for England was in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06,  (d) 2006-07 and  (e) 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer to the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Hornchurch (James Brokenshire) on 18 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 997-98W.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional  (a) GPs and  (b) other staff, broken down by type of staff, he estimates will be required to staff the new GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: The exact staffing levels at each general practitioner led health centre will vary depending on the range and extent of additional services each centre provides, to reflect local health needs.

Members: Correspondence

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue a direction to the transport co-ordinator of the South West Thames Retrieval Service to reply to the letters sent to her by the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on  (a) 19 May and  (b) 1 August 2008 on the death of a child in his constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: We are sorry to learn of the death of the child of the hon. Member's constituents, and we offer our condolences to the family. The South Thames Retrieval Service is provided by Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and this is therefore a matter for the Foundation Trust. We have written to Patricia Moberly, chair of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, informing her of the hon. Member's inquiry. She will reply shortly, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Motor Vehicles

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity of fuel used by her Department's road vehicles was in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 September 2008
	The requested information where available is as follows:
	
		
			   Cost (£)  Quantity (litres) 
			 DfT Central—London HQ(1) — — 
			 DfT Central—Air Accidents Investigation Branch(2) 11,450 9,954 
			 DfT Central—Marine Accident Investigation Branch(3) 1,530 1,321 
			 DfT Central—Rail Accident Investigation Branch(3) 1,511 1,461 
			 Driving Standards Agency(4) 274,286 (5)272,000 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (6)— (6)— 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency(3) 957,633 812,063 
			 Highways Agency—Traffic Officer Fleet 2,585,308 2,273,599 
			 Highways Agency—Winter Service Vehicles (6)— (5)918,000 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (6)— (6)— 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency(3) 401,636 (6)— 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (6)— (6)— 
			 (1) Included within Government Car and Despatch Agency. (2) Includes fuel purchased for hire cars, used when all Air Accidents Investigation Branch vehicles are committed. Hire cars were used heavily during late January and February this year during the major Heathrow accident. (3) Data relates to financial year 2007-08. (4) This includes fuel purchased using company fuel cards and hire car refills. Fuel purchased through employees' travel and subsistence claims cannot be identified separately. The Driving Standards Agency fleet of vehicles is comprised of cars, motorcycles, PCVs and LGVs. (5) Per annum estimate. (6) The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Official Cars: Exhaust Emissions

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the Government's fleet of Ministerial cars; and what steps she plans to take in the future.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency is responsible for providing ministerial cars. Each year since 2005-06, the Agency have been set a target to reduce the average tailpipe emissions of CO2 from its fleet. In April 2005, the ministerial fleet average was 204.92 grams per kilometre (g/km). In March 2008, the fleet average was 145.2 g/km, a reduction of over 29 per cent. The Agency is exploring ways of getting the whole of the ministerial fleet to an average of 130 g/km in line with the Government's target for the whole government fleet of 130 g/km by 2012.

Official Cars: Taxation

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Ministerial car fleet is subject to the standard road tax regime.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In line with all other Crown vehicles, the entire fleet of vehicles operated by the Government Car and Despatch Agency is exempt from paying vehicle and excise duty.

Railways: Electrification

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost of electrifying one mile of railway.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of electrifying the railway network is currently estimated at around £800,000 per single track mile (£500,000 per single track kilometre) dependant on the complexity and constraints of the particular line.

Carbon Emissions

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take to  (a) measure and  (b) offset the carbon dioxide emissions caused by producing departmental documents.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not currently measure or offset the carbon dioxide emissions caused by producing departmental documents across the Department, although it does offset carbon dioxide emissions from air travel. Some contracts have their own arrangements for carbon off setting, e.g. documents produced in relation to the sustainable schools strategy.
	The Department has always encouraged adoption of sustainable practices through its print and publications supply chains, for example using recycled paper and, where possible, environmentally friendly alternative products. However, the Department's new, broader, Publication, Production, Management and Delivery tender includes requirements to be measured against the Department's Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) in its specification. This will rate suppliers' impacts against the SDAP, and provide measurements against it, specifically by encouraging greater use of e channels; encouraging supply chains to implement low carbon emission printing equipment; and minimising unnecessary transportation of materials through the supply chain. The tender will be completed next year and operational around early summer 2009.

Children in Care: Health

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what ways he expects revised statutory guidance on looked-after children to affect the provision of healthcare assessments and reviews.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 September 2008
	The existing guidance on promoting the health of looked after children published in 2002 sets out what health assessments should cover and the nature of the services which should be provided to meet the child's physical, emotional and mental health needs. The guidance is statutory for local authorities but not on health bodies. Revised guidance will be on a statutory footing for primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, NHS trusts, and NHS foundation trusts as well as local authorities. This will ensure the importance of the active co-operation of health services in the health assessments of looked after children under the general duty in section 10 of the Children Act 2004, which requires primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to co-operate with local authorities and other agencies to improve the well-being of children in their area.

Children in Care: Health

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the likely effects of new joint strategic needs assessments on the health and well-being of looked-after children; and what steps his Department plans to take to monitor those effects.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 September 2008
	All local authorities, from 1 April 2008, are required to produce a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). This is the means by which primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities identify future health and wellbeing needs of local populations, including looked after children, to inform the priorities and targets of Local Area Agreements and local commissioning priorities.
	Improvements in the health of looked after children will be monitored through existing data collections, in particular, the new indicator on the emotional health of looked after children and through the Ofsted led programme of inspection of services and outcomes for looked after children.

Essex Police Authority: Data Protection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people employed by Essex Police Authority of each grade have  (a) partial and  (b) full access to data held by her Department; what guidance her Department issues to persons seeking access to this data; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Eight people employed by the Essex police authority have regular partial access to data held by the Home Office for performance management purposes. The access to this data is subject to terms and conditions of use. More general ad-hoc access to data would be subject to the Home Office Information Charter.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her latest estimate is of the number of DNA samples taken and loaded onto the national DNA database since the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 came into force, which would not previously have been taken; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Before 2001, the police could take DNA samples from anyone charged but had to destroy them (and the profiles on the DNA database derived from them) if charges were dropped or the person was found not guilty. The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 changed this so that DNA could be kept from those who had been charged even if they were acquitted. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (which came into force in 2004) extended the power further so that DNA could be kept from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and held in a police station.
	This question therefore relates to the number of people with a record on the National DNA Database now, who would not have had a record retained permanently on it under pre-2001 legislation, because they had not been convicted.
	It is not possible to say how many people on the NDNAD have not been convicted. This is because the NDNAD itself does not contain any information about criminal records, as this is not necessary for its function of matching DNA from crime scenes with DNA from individuals. To determine whether someone on the NDNAD has been convicted, it is necessary to refer to their record on the police national computer (PNC) which holds criminal record information.
	However, before the introduction of the ACPO Criminal Record Retention Guidelines in April 2006, police forces deleted PNC records from some of those convicted of lesser offences after five to 10 years. If the PNC record of someone on the NDNAD no longer exists, it is not possible to determine whether the person has or has not been convicted.
	Data obtained from the PNC on 31 March 2008 indicates that 3,832,986 (of the 4,116,713) people had a record retained on the PNC. Of these, 3,259,347 had a conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand recorded on the PNC.

Genetics: Databases

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) children and  (b) adults resident in Bexley had their DNA recorded on police records in each of the last five years.

Meg Hillier: Information held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) is available on the basis of the police force which added the DNA profile, not the address of the person sampled. Information is not therefore available on the number of residents of Bexley who have had a DNA profile loaded. Information is however available on the number of profiles loaded by the Metropolitan police in the last five years as shown in Table 1.
	The number of profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because a number of subject profiles on the NDNAD are replicates, i.e. a profile for a person has been loaded to the NDNAD on more than one occasion. This may arise for a number of reasons, such as a person giving a different name on different occasions they are arrested, or because of upgrading of profiles from the SGM to the SGM Plus profiling system. It is estimated that 13.3 per cent. of the subject profiles held on the entire NDNAD are replicates. However, this rate may vary between forces, so figures for the number of individuals are not given for particular forces.
	
		
			  Table 1: Metropolitan police 
			   Profiles loaded taken from: 
			   All ages  Aged under 18 at time profile loaded  Aged 18 and over at time profile loaded 
			 2003-04 59,810 10,663 49,147 
			 2004-05 74,389 13,838 60,551 
			 2005-06 111,575 18,644 92,931 
			 2006-07 154,674 25,246 129,428 
			 2007-08 86,032 15,299 70,733

Sexual Offences

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered  (a) sex offenders and  (b) paedophiles were resident in each police authority area in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) This information is published in local multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) annual reports, which are available in the House Libraries and at:
	http://www.probation.justice.gov.uk/output/page30.asp
	This data was not collated before 2004-05.
	 (b) Information on the number of registered sex offenders within each police force area who have committed sexual offences against children is not centrally collated.

Stop and Search: Ethnic Groups

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the reasons for black people to be two and a half times more likely than white people to be stopped by police under stop and account powers.

Tony McNulty: The police have been required to record the details of those people who have been stopped and required to account for their presence, behaviour or articles in their possession since April 2005. The first data sets relating to stop and account was formally released this year. The National Policing Improvement Agency is currently engaged in work to reduce disproportionality in both the 'Stop and Search' and 'Stop and Account' procedures.

Army: Manpower

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were enlisted in the army at the latest date for which information is available.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 10 September 2008
	As at 1 July 2008 the current strength of the Army was 108,750. This figure includes all trained and untrained personnel, Ghurkhas and full-time Reserve personnel. It excludes Army Reservists mobilised for service.
	Information on the strength of the Army is published by DASA in its monthly National Statistics release "TSP3: UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements" which can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/apps/publications/pubViewFile.php?content=50&date=2008-08-28&type=pdf.
	Due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System, Army strength statistics at 1 July 2008 are provisional and subject to review.

NATO

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the agenda is for the NATO defence ministers' meeting in London on 18 September 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Following on from discussions at the Bucharest summit, the NATO Secretary-General called for a special meeting of NATO defence ministers to focus on the political challenges of NATO reform and to give ministerial direction and leadership to the transformation agenda. As a firm believer in the need for a fresh look at our international institutions, I offered to host the meeting which will be held at Lancaster House on 18 and 19 of September 2008. The Secretary-General has not issued any formal agenda, but has broadly outlined the issues facing the alliance—planning and delivering key capabilities; efficient use of human, financial and technical resources; and joint and proportionate burden-sharing. It is likely we will discuss also recent events in Georgia.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what representations she has received on the FireControl Project from  (a) Chief Fire Officers,  (b) chairs of local fire authorities and  (c) chairs of local authority companies since March 2008; and whether such representations have indicated opposition from fire authorities in their region to the move to regional control centres;
	(2)  what plans she has to introduce regional fire control centres in areas where the local fire authority opposes their introduction; under what authority such powers may be exercised; and what powers she has to enforce such action.

John Healey: We are working closely with all interested parties, including chief fire officers, fire and rescue authorities and local authority controlled companies, to deliver the FiReControl Project. There have been formal and informal representations and as with any project, a mixture of views have been submitted.
	As the recently published Business Case Part 1: The Regional Cases show, FiReControl will significantly enhance national resilience and will provide a much greater functionality for the fire and rescue service in England. Communities and Local Government is committed to delivering this project. The "Fire and Rescue Service National Framework 2008-11" reinforced this commitment.
	Communities and Local Government have worked in partnership with other interested parties to deliver the FiReControl Project, and wishes to continue working in this way. But because of its importance we would consider, but only as a last resort, the use of powers under sections 22 and 29 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to ensure a successful move to FiReControl Network.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the full business case for the FireControl Project.

John Healey: Part 1 of the Business Case: The Regional Case was published on 8 July 2008, a copy has been placed in the House Library. Part 2: The National Case, will be published later this year.

Heating: Solar Power

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) domestic and  (b) non-domestic solar thermal hot water installations to buildings there were in each year since 2004; and what percentage of all buildings this represents.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	As part of a consortium of organisations including the microgeneration industry and energy NGOs, we commissioned research on the growth potential for microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland, which included current levels of uptake. It found that there were an estimated 90,000 solar thermal installations at the end of 2007, up from 78,000 at the end of 2004. It didn't estimate how many were domestic or non-domestic installations.
	The research can be accessed at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/research/page38208.html

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) councils and  (b) housing associations are offering the Social Homebuy scheme.

John Healey: There are currently  (a) 10 local authorities and  (b) 69 housing associations offering the voluntary Social HomeBuy scheme to their tenants.

Care Homes: Winter Fuel Payments

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons those living in care homes are classified as ineligible for winter fuel payments by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Residents of care homes who are not in receipt of Pension Credit are entitled to a shared Winter Fuel Payment of either £100 if they are aged 60 to 79 or £150 if they are aged 80 or over (this winter it will be £125 and £200 respectively). This is because they share the accommodation with other people who are also entitled to the payment and are responsible for a share of the heating costs.
	Residents of care homes who are in receipt of Pension Credit are not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. This is because historically people living in a care home and in receipt of an income-related benefit have received public funding for their care and accommodation costs including heating. Originally this was through the income-related benefit itself but for many years now has been through funding from the local authority. As this is still the case for the vast majority of people receiving Pension Credit, the Winter Fuel Payment is not payable.
	 Note:
	For winter 2008-09 the Winter Fuel Payment is increased to £250 for households with someone aged 60-79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.

Post Office Card Account

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his letter of 9 July to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling what  (a) EU and  (b) UK legislation creates a legal requirement for a competitive tender to be held for the successor to the current Post Office Card Account.

Stephen Timms: holding answer  10  September 2008
	The legislation that creates a legal requirement for a competitive tender to be held for the successor to the current Post Office Card account is EU Directive 2004/18/EC, enacted in the UK as "The Public Contracts Regulations 2006".

Carbon Sequestration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions his Department has had with other EU governments on development of carbon capture storage policy; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had many discussions with other EU Governments on the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) policy.
	EU leaders have recognised the potential of CCS and at the Spring Council 2007 agreed to bring about the necessary technical, economic and regulatory framework to bring environmentally safe CCS to markets, by 2020 if possible. This included an ambition for up to 12 demonstration projects by 2015. The UK Government are strongly committed to working with the EU partners to support these aspirations.

Carers: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to paragraph 3.11 in the Carers at the Heart of 21st-century families and communities report, how much of the £150 million funding for breaks for carers of disabled children his Department will provide in each of the next two years.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Services on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1087W.

Coal

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has for expenditure on clean coal technology over the next 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: In November 2007 the Government announced a competition for one of the world's first commercial-scale demonstrations of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology on a coal fired power plant. The project is scheduled to start operation in 2014. BERR is also committed to spending £2.2 million on the development of an Oxy-Fuel Combustion (CO2 capture) demonstration system during 2008 to 2010, and a programme of support for CCS is under consideration by the Energy Technologies Institute.
	The Government announced in the 2008 Budget that a new call for project proposals will be made shortly under the Environmental Transformation Fund. This will include support for the development of component parts of Carbon Capture and Storage and for other carbon abatement technologies.
	In addition Clean Coal Technology research and development continues to be supported under the Research Councils' Energy Programme and the Technology Strategy Board's Technology Programme. Public sector funding for the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board is provided by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills.

Departmental Consultants

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was paid to outside consultants used by his Department or its predecessor in each year since 2000.

Gareth Thomas: Central records indicate that the cost to the Department of engaging outside consultants in each of the following financial years has been:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2000-01 21 
			 2001-02 36 
			 2002-03 93 
			 2003-04 112 
			 2004-05 86 
			 2005-06 53.6 
			 2006-07 40.3 
			 2007-08 26 
			 2008-09 (1)1 
			 (1) To date. 
		
	
	The Department has a formalised business case approval process for proposed consultancy engagements. This has been in operation for two years. We have worked closely with OGC in formulating the cross-government Consultancy Value Programme (CVP) and look forward to furthering this important initiative.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department and its agencies spent on entertainment in each financial year since its establishment.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and, prior to April 2007, its predecessor, the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), ensures that all expenditure on entertainment and hospitality is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	The figures in the tables are from 2002-3 to 2007-8 (figures prior to 2002 are not readily available) and include both entertainment and official hospitality:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 903,120 917,073 1,487,920 1,451,062 908,603 
			 UK Trade and Investment 218,844 205,798 292,166 239,858 207,185 
			 Insolvency Service 7,826 6,853 6,349 9,497 4,329 
			 Arbitration and Conciliation Service 0 0 0 189,086 213,618 
			 Total 1,137,031 1,144,144 1,797,197 1,895,225 1,333,735 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 (£) 
			 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 805,024 
			 UK Trade and Investment 195,305 
			 Insolvency Service 265 
			 Arbitration and Conciliation Service 196,043 
			 Total 1,196,637 
			  Note: Expenditure has reduced across the period. The reason for the apparently higher spend in 2004-05 and 2005-06 is that for those years all catering provided for events held in DTI's conference centre were booked to Entertainment rather than other more appropriate codes. 
		
	
	 Letter to Mr. Philip Hammond from Stephen Speed dated 15 September:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to your question how much his Department and its agencies spent on entertainment in each financial year since its establishment.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform reported in answer to PQ 2007-1522 that £4,328.55 was spent on Entertainment in the 2006-07 Financial Year. Expenditure on Entertainment in 2007-08 was £264.76. Spend on Entertainment in the first three months of 2008-09 was £901.62.
	 Letter to Mr. Philip Hammons from Tim Moss dated 15 September:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The figures given below and overleaf are from 2002-3 to 2007-8 (figures prior to 2002 are not readily available) and include both entertainment and official hospitality:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2002-3 1,756 
			 2003-4 1,861 
			 2004-5 1,963 
			 2005-6 2,507 
			 2006-7 2,218 
			 2007-8 2,369

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Reward arrangements below the senior civil service are delegated to individual Departments and agencies. For the senior civil service, Departments and agencies are responsible for their own reward arrangements within a framework set by Cabinet Office. The information available is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Staff below SCS receiving performance related bonus payments in 2006-07 appraisal 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Male 435 27 
			 Female 484 34 
			 Disabled 55 24 
			 Ethnic minority 87 24 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: SCS staff receiving performance related bonus payments in 2007 appraisal 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Male 100 75 
			 Female 36 25 
			 Recorded disabled 6 4 
			 Recorded ethnic minority 5 4 
		
	
	Data linking sexual orientation to bonus payments is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Fair Trade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 387W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are  (a) available for purchase at his Department's staff catering facilities and  (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements.

Gareth Thomas: Fair Trade products provided by the Department's contracted catering service provider from staff catering facilities include all coffee beans and filter coffee, standard tea bags, sugar sticks (brown and white), limited confectionary and a selection of biscuits. These are also supplied when ordered for meetings and other engagements.

Flexible Working

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many working parents were  (a) eligible to request,  (b) asked for and  (c) were refused flexible work in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many employers  (a) were eligible to be asked to provide flexible working,  (b) were asked by an employee for flexible working arrangements and  (c) refused an employee's request to work flexibly in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: The following answer gives evidence on the number of parents eligible to request flexible working and the outcome of these requests, in addition we are also providing information related to employers receiving a request. We do not have information on the number of employers who are eligible to be asked to provide flexible working.
	Three surveys carried out by the department provide evidence on the information requested.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment carried out in 2002
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file11440.pdf
	estimated that, prior to the introduction of the right to request flexible working for parents of young and disabled children, 3.7 million employees would be entitled to make a request to work flexibly.
	Evidence on employees is provided by the Third Work-Life Balance Employees' Survey, conducted in 2006, which indicated that 17 per cent. of eligible working parents made requests to their employer for flexible working. Of these requests 78 per cent. were accepted, 17 per cent. were refused, while 5 per cent. were awaiting decisions at the time that the survey was conducted.
	Evidence on employers comes from the Third Work-Life Balance Survey of Employers conducted in 2007, which found that 40 per cent. of workplaces had received a request from an employee within the previous 12 months to work flexibly. The survey also found that 90 per cent. of employers had accepted all requests and 9 per cent. reported they had turned down at least one request.
	We do not have data on the number of employers who are eligible to be asked to provide flexible working.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in  (a) his Department and (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Gareth Thomas: As at July 31 2008 there were 60 staff working in the central communications directorate of BERR and there are 22 UK Trade and Investment staff in similar roles.
	There were, as of June 2008, a further 55 staff members, in the wider department, carrying out primarily communications roles.
	All civil servants who work in a communication role can access the GCN and the resource it provides.
	I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House agencies and they will respond to you directly.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 22 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Services in respect of your question (2007/3218) asking how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.
	The Insolvency Service has two members of staff classified as Government communicators with access to the Government Communications network.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 21 July 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Five Companies House staff are members of the Government Communication Network, and therefore classed as Government communicators. As members, they are the only staff with full access to the network.

National Grid: Standards

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to publish National Grid's full report into the sequence of events and causes of the drops in system frequency on 27 May 2008.

Malcolm Wicks: The national grid has published a report into the events of 27 May 2008. This can be found on the national grid website at
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/D680C70A-F73D-4484-BA54-95656534B52D/26917/PublicReport Issuel.pdf.

Overseas Trade: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech he made to the annual dinner of the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce; who drafted the speech; which Government departments provided advice; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: A copy of this speech will be deposited in the House of Commons Library.
	The speech was drafted by UK Trade and investment (UKTI) officials in London, with contributions from the UKTI team in the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Photovoltaics

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) domestic and  (b) non-domestic photovoltaic installations to buildings there were in each year since 2004; and what percentage of all buildings this represents.

Malcolm Wicks: As part of a consortium of organisations including the microgeneration industry and energy NGOs, we commissioned research on the growth potential for microgeneration in England, Wales and Scotland, which included current levels of uptake. It found that there were an estimated 2,900 solar PV installations at the end of 2007. It didn't estimate how many were domestic or non-domestic installations.
	The research can be accessed at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/micro generation/research/page38208.html

Regional Planning and Development: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding each of the regional development agencies plans to provide to each of the regional equality and diversity partnerships in 2008-09.

Patrick McFadden: The following table shows RDAs' funding to regional equality and diversity partnerships in 2008-09.
	
		
			  RDA  Funding in 2008-09 (£000)  Notes 
			 AWM 0 No plans to provide core funding for the respective regional equality and diversity partnerships in their regions in 2008-09. 
			 ONE 80 ONE to provide £80,000 to the North East Equality and Diversity Partnership. 
			 YF 0 No plans to provide core funding for the respective regional equality and diversity partnerships in their regions in 2008-09. 
		
	
	No such single, legally constituted equality and diversity partnership exists within the east of England, East Midlands, London, the north west, south east or the south west.

Video Games

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) highly skilled and  (b) other jobs were associated with the UK computer games industry in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	 Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though it will not be possible for this to deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.
	However, data recently published by independent industry consultants, Games Investor Consulting, suggests that in 2006 there were 9,150 highly skilled jobs in games development studios in the UK. This rose to 9,950 in 2007. A further 12,000 staff are estimated to be currently employed in games publishing and games retail.

Video Games

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many highly skilled jobs were created by the UK computer games industry in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	 Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though it will not be possible for this to deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.
	However, data recently published by independent industry consultants Games Investor Consulting estimates that some 800 new highly skilled jobs were created in the UK computer games development industry between 2006 and 2007.

Video Games

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what revenue UK-made computer games generated globally in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though it will not be possible for this to deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.
	BERR has not made any estimates of revenue generated by UK-made computer games in each of the last five years. However, independent industry consultants Games Investor have recently published data which suggests that between 2006 and 2008 computer games made in the UK will generate nearly £4 billion globally.

Video Games

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of potential revenues to UK companies of worldwide sales of UK-made computer games in 2008.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though it will not be possible for this to deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.
	BERR has not made any estimates of potential revenues to UK companies of worldwide sales of UK-made computer games in 2008.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department has made no recent assessment of the level of demand for the services it provides in Welsh. I have contacted Companies House and the Insolvency Service, and asked their chief executives to respond directly to you. However, their records indicate that, to date, none have been asked to provide any of their documents in the Welsh language.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 21 July 2008
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has asked me to reply to your question (2007/2933) on what recent assessment has been made of the level of demand for the services provided by his Department and its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language.
	The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The Service has not made any recent assessment of the level of demand for services provided in the Welsh language, but requests for services in the Welsh language are dealt with on a case by case basis and The Service will continue to provide information and adapt its services in Welsh as and when required.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 21 July 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Companies House has not made recent assessments of the need for these services because we already have a good idea of the demand. This is because we provide a service which allows officers of all companies that are registered in Wales to receive all communications in bilingual form. At present some 400 companies have taken up this option. The Companies legislation under which we operate allows certain filings to be bilingual and details of these are attached as an annex. Under the provisions of the new Companies Act 2006, we plan to increase the number of documents that Welsh companies can file in the Welsh language, without them having to provide certified translations into English.
	We provide electronic services to all our customers, including our Welsh speaking customers. Our latest development is a bilingual web-filing service for the annual return that provides online filing capabilities equivalent to services offered to companies filing in English. Bilingual webfiling also allows customers to file other document types. This delivered significant benefits to Welsh speaking customers in terms of cheaper, quicker, simpler and more secure filing. In addition all guidance material is provided bilingually and we operate a Welsh language version of the Companies House website. We have an established network of Welsh speakers across the organisation and provide dedicated telephone numbers for customers to communicate directly them.
	I hope this information is helpful. I would be happy answer any further queries.
	 Annex — Companies House provision of Welsh filing services
	Required by law:
	1. Currently companies can file bilingual forms in order to:
	Incorporate a company
	Declare that a company is exempt from the requirement to use "Limited" or "Cyfyngedig"
	File a return of allotment of shares
	Change an accounting reference date
	Change the situation or address of the registered office
	Appoint a director or secretary
	Change the particulars of a director or secretary
	Terminate a director or secretary appointment
	File the company's annual return
	Apply for strike-off
	Withdraw a strike-off application
	2. Existing legislation allows the filing of various forms relating to Welsh companies in Welsh (with the registrar then obtaining an English translation for the public record):
	Memorandum and articles of association
	Annual accounts and reports (private companies only)
	Auditors report (private company only)
	From 1st October 2009 as part of the Companies Act 2006, Welsh companies will be able to file additional documents in Welsh only (without the need for a certified translation into English), these include:
	Special resolutions to:
	re-register
	reduce the company's share capital
	change the company's name
	change the location of the company's registered office
	alter the company's articles on conversion to a community interest company
	amend a resolution or agreement by reason of an enactment or court order

Equitable Life Assurance Society

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms the Government is using to assess compensation payable to former Equitable Life policyholders.

Kitty Ussher: As I explained in my written statement to the House on 17 July, the ombudsman looked at matters of considerable factual and technical complexity. I am giving her 2,800-page report on Equitable Life very careful consideration and will give my response to the House in the autumn.

Tax Credits

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many recipients of tax credit renewal packs were subsequently found not to be eligible for tax credits in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what procedures are in place to discontinue the distribution of tax credit renewal packs to former tax credit claimants when they have ceased to be eligible for tax credits.

Jane Kennedy: The statistical information is not available in the format requested.
	HMRC is statutorily obliged to send annual declaration and renewal notices requiring claimants to provide or confirm details of their income and circumstances, and any changes in their circumstances. That information is necessary to determine their entitlement in the tax year just ended.
	HMRC do not send annual declaration and renewals packs to customers where they have not been in receipt of tax credits over the past year and when HMRC are certain that the customer is no longer eligible for tax credits.

Afghanistan: Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has allocated to support the training of accountants in Afghanistan; what support his Department has provided to the Afghanistan Society of Accounting Technicians; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not provide financial support for the training of accountants nor for the Afghanistan Society of Accounting Technicians. The objective of our economic management programme is to support the Afghan Government's capacity to manage and expand the formal economy and promote wider reform of governmental systems.
	In 2008-09 DFID will contribute £74 million towards this objective; over half the total Afghanistan programme. This support is aligned to Government of Afghanistan priorities and includes £60 million channelled through the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). The 2008 external review of the ARTF found that is has helped improve the Government's capacity to manage its finances.
	DFID is helping the Government of Afghanistan to improve its public spending practises with a £9.8 million programme of support to the Budget Department in the Ministry of Finance. This has led to year on year improved use of resources in the delivery of basic services to the Afghan population.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Detailed records of PCs, screens, printers, copiers, etc., left on when not in use are not kept. However awareness-raising switch-off campaigns around the office have been carried out including using posters provided by the Carbon Trust, to reduce the proportion of equipment left on overnight, and security staff now regularly monitor and switch off unnecessary items. Exercises to reduce the overall number of devices such as printers used in the office have also been carried out.
	It is estimated that the awareness campaigns and reduction in numbers of items have reduced the overall number of devices left on unnecessarily over the last five years from around 800 (20 per cent. of the total) to less than 200 (under 5 per cent. of the total). The approximate additional cost in terms of electricity would have been between £8,000 five years ago, to £2-3,000 last year.

International Health Partnership

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what programmes his Department is working in partnership with the International Health Partnership.

Gillian Merron: The International Health Partnership (IHP) was launched a year ago, on 5 September 2007, to accelerate progress towards the health Millennium Development Goals. It is not a new institution, a new Secretariat or a new fund. It is about donors working together to support developing country governments as they try to improve the health of their people.
	The IHP currently operates in a small set of countries—Burundi; Cambodia; Ethiopia; Kenya; Madagascar; Mali; Mozambique; Nepal; Nigeria; and Zambia—to build stronger and lasting health systems and to strengthen coordination of aid. At a global level, the Department for International Development (DFID) supports the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank in taking forward the IHP. At a country level, where DFID has a programme, we are working with partners to implement the IHP.

Iraq: Reconstruction

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has allocated to Sadr City, Baghdad to improve  (a) electricity,  (b) sanitation and  (c) medical facilities; what types of aid have been provided in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing support to the people of Sadr City through contributions to UNICEF and to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
	UNICEF has provided medical supplies both to the Directorate of Health and to medical facilities in Sadr City. They have provided safe water, hygiene materials and emergency health supplies to over 12,000 families and 3,000 individuals in Sadr City. Water tankering operations serve these families daily, as well as the three major hospitals and other health facilities in the city. UNICEF has also pre-positioned various supplies in medical facilities in the city—including basic health kits for up to 100,000 people—and distributed water purification tablets door-to-door.
	In Sadr City, ICRC provides food parcels, rice, and hygiene kits to vulnerable families and medical supplies to the Imam Ali general hospital. ICRC transport nearly 10,000 litres of drinking water to the city every day, and in Sadr City have repaired the Urfali water treatment plant—which provides clean water for 10,000 people—and the Al-Rashad psychiatric hospital, the largest health centre in Iraq.
	ICRC's humanitarian assistance to Sadr City is funded from their core Iraq budget, to which DFID has provided £7 million in 2008. Similarly, UNICEF's work in Sadr City is funded from the UN Consolidated Appeal for Iraq, to which DFID has provided £5 million in 2008.
	In a wider sense, DFID is encouraging the Government of Iraq to take a lead in providing for the welfare of their own people. In line with this, the Government of Iraq has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the regeneration of Sadr City—with a budget of $100 million—which is responsible for both regeneration and delivery of essential services to Sadr City, including electricity.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department operates to increase awareness of  (a) black and minority ethnic groups,  (b) faith groups and  (c) young people on assistance to developing countries; and how much was spent on such programmes in 2007-08.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) runs a comprehensive package of development awareness programmes aimed at reaching diverse audiences, including black and minority ethnic groups, faith groups and young people. The total budget for development awareness for 2007-08 was £14.4 million.
	Information on the main programmes for the audiences mentioned is as follows:
	 Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Groups:
	A partnership arrangement with the BME network organisation, Connections for Development—approximately £250,000 in 2007-08 to support the engagement of more BME organisations in international development. A volunteering programme to support volunteering in developing countries by the UK's diaspora communities was launched on 17 July 2008. The budget for this is £3 million over three years. Special workshops have been run in order to make BME groups aware of funding streams that are available to support greater development awareness among their communities and to increase the number of good quality applications from these groups.
	 Faith groups:
	DFID supports a number of faith groups, or projects which target faith groups, through the competitive Development Awareness Fund. Ministers have been undertaking outreach visits to faith groups, including a multi-faith gathering of leaders hosted in Glasgow on 7 March and a seminar hosted by the DFID Minister, Shahid Malik, with Muslim groups to discuss DFID's work.
	DFID gives funding to faith based NGOs such as CAFOD, Aga Khan Foundation, Islamic Relief and Christian Aid some of which is allocated by them to development awareness activities.
	 Young people:
	In 2007-08 DFID funded around £8 million of activities that targeted young people in schools through the formal education sector, working with colleagues in DCSF, the curriculum authorities and the devolved Administrations. In addition DFID launched a new Youth Volunteering Scheme that aims to fund 2,500 young volunteers to work in developing countries. The budget for this scheme is £10 million over three years. DFID also reaches out to young people through sponsorship of youth festivals, such as the recent Global Students' Forum, and through innovative tools such as the Race Against Poverty Game which is available at the DFID website (www.dfid.gov.uk).

Overseas Aid: International Cooperation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcomes were of the Accra conference on aid effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra reached a groundbreaking agreement—the Accra Agenda for Action—to improve the quality of global aid and help ensure that every pound or dollar of global aid delivers the maximum benefit for poor people.
	In adopting the Accra Agenda for Action donors and developing countries agreed a number of concrete, monitorable actions, including the following:
	Donors committed to make greater use of country's own financial systems to deliver aid, helping to strengthen those systems and improve accountability to Parliaments and citizens;
	Donors and developing countries agreed to develop stronger mechanisms to hold each other accountable for meeting their commitments, at both country and global level;
	Donors committed to respect and support partner country-led efforts to agree a better division of labour between donors in-country and to start a dialogue on international division of labour between countries. This will help to reduce the burden on governments of dealing with multiple donors and address the issue of countries that receive insufficient aid;
	Donors will better communicate with partner governments about the aid they can expect over the next three-five years, helping governments to plan more effectively.
	Donors will improve the way they deliver aid in 'fragile states', including those suffering from conflict. They agreed ways to use aid better to support state-building and peace building.
	The full text of the Accra Agenda for Action is available through:
	http://www.accrahlf.net/.
	Also at Accra, 14 donors endorsed the new UK-led International Aid Transparency Initiative to help ensure that information on aid flows is available to everyone. It will enable partner governments and their citizens—those who ultimately benefit from aid—to plan for and make the best use of aid. It will also help citizens hold donors and governments to account for their promises.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to consult the relevant select committees of the House on any future deployment of British police officers to Kabul; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: There are no plans to make it our policy to consult select committees on any future deployment of British police officers to Kabul. The International Development Committee was briefed on the EU Police Mission (EUPOL) in Afghanistan on 17 January 2008. The Government deposits Explanatory Memoranda on EUPOL's legal documents at the relevant times with the House of Commons Parliamentary European Select Committee.

China: Politics and Government

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese government to ensure that it uses the name Taiwan, in Chinese, Chinese Taipei, instead of Taipei, China, and that English and Chinese versions used are the same.

Meg Munn: This is a matter for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). But the name used by Taiwan in international sporting events has been agreed by the IOC, Taiwan and China and we would expect all parties involved to abide by this agreement. The Chinese authorities have stated that the form "Chinese Taipei", and the agreed equivalent in Chinese, will be used in all official venues and in official correspondence, as required.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from other Commonwealth countries on his decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Scholarship Fund.

Jim Murphy: The Canadian Government expressed regret at the decision and asked us to reconsider it. We have explained the steps we are taking to identify additional funding for scholarships for Canada, in addition to the existing allocation of Chevening scholarships, once we stop funding new awards through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan after the 2008-09 academic year. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not received any representations from other Commonwealth governments.
	The Government's overall contribution to Commonwealth scholarships will increase over the next three years—from £16.9 million in 2007-08 to £17.9 million in 2008-09; about £18 million in 2009-10; and over £17.5 million in 2010-11—because the Department for International Development is increasing its contribution for scholars from developing Commonwealth countries.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Diplomatic Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to seek to ensure that the salary arrears of former diplomats from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are now British citizens are paid by the government of the DRC.

Meg Munn: We have raised the issue of the payment of outstanding debts, including salary arrears, owed by the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on a number of occasions and will continue to press the embassy to settle them. We have been advised by the embassy that the issue of salaries owed to former diplomats at the embassy should be pursued by the former diplomats themselves directly with the Government of the DRC.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Meg Munn: 39 UK civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO services have had two or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years up to 31 July 2008. This represents 0.7 per cent. of the FCO's UK-based work force.

Developing Countries: Charities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department provides to charitable organisations on the direction of their operations in third-world countries.

Meg Munn: Our diplomatic missions regularly provide specific advice to charitable organisations wishing to work in their host countries. We are most commonly consulted for general travel and security advice but also regularly advise on the general political conditions, including the most efficient and effective means of delivering aid to the country. Beyond this, we would also encourage non-governmental organisations to carry out their own independent checks in line with industry best practice.
	This advice would normally be delivered by the Department for International Development, but where they are not represented, this role is played by our embassy or high commission. More general information is also accessible through our website on a range of issues that may affect them, including travel advice, political structure, security environment and economic conditions.
	Non-governmental organisations are, of course, not obliged to seek this advice or to stay in close contact with our embassy or high commission and some choose not to do so. Although we maintain a good relationship with non-governmental organisations overseas, we are careful to respect their independence and are not in a position to dictate the way in which they deliver their aid.
	Where projects are funded or part funded by the Government, however, we have considerable say in how aid is directed. In some cases the Government use non-governmental organisations as conduits for essential UK aid, particularly in countries where we lack confidence in the host government's ability or willingness to distribute aid to the most needy. It is, in general, difficult for host governments to divert aid administered through non-governmental organisations for political or military purposes.

Diego Garcia: Detainees

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2008, Official  Report, columns 932-33W, on Diego Garcia: detainees, what investigation his Department has carried out into the allegations relating to the USS Bataan and the USNS Stockholm.

Kim Howells: Pursuant to my answer of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 932-33W, during the course of our most recent exchanges, the US have confirmed to us that they have not held any detainees on ships within the territorial waters of Diego Garcia since 11 September 2001. They have also informed us that they do not operate detention facilities for terrorist suspects onboard ships. US naval vessels were used in the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan to screen and temporarily hold a very small number of individuals pending their transfer to land-based detention facilities. The US has informed us that these ships were not located within the territorial waters of Diego Garcia. We are not aware of any of these ships being supplied from the island.
	In a matter unrelated to terrorist suspects, the US have informed us that they apprehended pirates on ships in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa and that these individuals were detained on US Naval vessels pending their delivery to the land of a nation with jurisdiction to try them.

Diplomatic Service: Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of British ambassadors and high commissioners were educated at  (a) a private school,  (b) a state school,  (c) the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and  (d) other universities.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this data as a matter of course on its employees. The data has been collected in order to answer this question. As at July 2008, two Heads of Mission posts were vacant.
	
		
			  Educational background of serving Heads of Mission and Governors (by school) 
			  School  Total  Percentage 
			 Private 82 52 
			 State 54 35 
			 Data unavailable 19 12 
			 Vacant 2 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Educational background of serving Heads of Mission and Governors (by university) 
			  University  Total  Percentage 
			 Oxford and Cambridge 83 53 
			 Other universities 41 26 
			 Did not attend university 11 12 
			 Data unavailable 20 8 
			 Vacant 2 1

Iceland: Whales

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government has made to the Icelandic government on the possible resumption of whaling in Iceland.

Meg Munn: When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met with Icelandic Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde on 24 April, he raised the whaling issue and explained our view that the whaling industry was doing significant damage to Iceland's international reputation. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also pointed to the significant economic and social benefits from Iceland's growing whale-watching industry and expressed the view that any decision to recommence whaling could seriously undermine those benefits.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, (Mr. Murphy) gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) on 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 436W. As the Minister for Europe's response made clear, he raised whaling with the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Gísladóttir on 12 May.
	On 25 June, our ambassador to Iceland published an article in the Icelandic press entitled 'What on earth is the point to whaling'. Although written from a personal view, the article makes clear the UK position on whaling: we strongly support the International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling and oppose all forms of whaling, other than limited whaling operations by indigenous people for subsistence purposes, to meet a defined and substantiated need. The article also makes clear the UK's position that neither a domestic nor international market exists for Icelandic whaling products.
	Our new ambassador to Iceland also raised the whaling issue with the Prime Minister of Iceland at their meeting on 14 July.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 147-8W, on Iran (nuclear programme), what the evidential basis is for his statement that sanctions are having an effect on the Iranian economy; and what effect such sanctions are having.

David Miliband: There is much anecdotal evidence from sources inside Iran that the financial measures, including asset freezes imposed by UN Security Council resolutions and reinforced by the EU, have affected the Iranian business community's ability to function effectively in some areas. They have disrupted the international operations of a number of Iranian companies and those Iranian banks named in the sanctions. According to our sources, restrictions on dual use goods have led to difficulties in sourcing spare parts in the Iranian power sector.
	Sanctions have also partly contributed to a slowdown in inward foreign investment in the Iranian oil and gas sector. There is now a growing debate inside Iran about the Iranian government's policies, including on economic management. Internal discontent about the Iranian economy is increasing in the light of accelerating inflation rates (approximately 26 per cent. as at August 2008), unemployment and frequent power cuts. We believe further measures on Iran must remain part of the current twin track diplomatic approach to persuade the Iranian regime that its continued defiance of UN Security Council resolutions will not be cost free.

Israel: EU Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which settlement products have benefited from the mutual trade concessions agreed between EU and Israel for agricultural products, processed agricultural products or fisheries.

Kim Howells: It has been brought to our attention that goods from illegal Israeli settlements may be entering the UK under false pretences and without paying the correct customs duties. We have discussed this issue with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian General Delegation in London and non-governmental organisations. We take this issue seriously and have alerted HM Revenue and Customs to it so that they can take appropriate action.

Kosovo

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's budget is for expenditure in Kosovo on  (a) embassy staff and other operational costs,  (b) support for the British Council,  (c) technical assistance to the (i) government of Kosovo and (ii) non-governmental organisations working in Kosovo,  (d) budgetary support for (A) the government of Kosovo and (B) non-governmental bodies working in Kosovo,  (e) support for (1) UNMIK, (2) EULEX, (3) ICO, (4) OSCE and (5) other international bodies and  (f) other costs in the 2008-09 financial year.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) budget for expenditure is £1.1 million on embassy staff and other operational costs and around £200,000 on support for the British Council in the 2008-09 financial year. Technical assistance to the Kosovo government is provided through a combination of FCO bilateral funding, project activities under the joint FCO/Department for International Development/Ministry of Defence Conflict Prevention Pool and the FCO's Strategic Programme Fund. The total budgets for expenditure for these three funds in the 2008-09 financial year are: £76,000; up to £3.8 million; and £110,000 respectively. Our work with non-governmental organisations in Kosovo is also funded from the Conflict Prevention Pool and the Strategic Programme Fund. The FCO does not provide budgetary support for the government of Kosovo and non-governmental bodies working in Kosovo.
	The UN Mission in Kosovo's approved budget for the 2008-09 financial year is US$198 million, of which the UK's contribution is 7.9 per cent. or US$14.8 million (around £7.4 million). The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo's (EULEX) approved commitment appropriation for calendar year 2008 is €140 million, of which the UK's contribution is 17 per cent. or €23.8 million (around £18.9 million). The actual amount spent on EULEX in 2008-09 will not be known until the end of the financial year. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mission in Kosovo's (OMIK) approved budget for calendar year 2008 is just over €30 million, of which the UK's contribution is 11.09 per cent. or €3.3 million (around £2.6 million). The budget for calendar year 2009 is yet to be approved but in UK financial year 2007-08, the UK contribution to OMIK was €3.7 million. We would not expect this level to be exceeded in 2008-09.
	We have provisionally budgeted for a total of 76 UK secondees to EULEX in 2008-09 at an estimated cost of £5.3 million and for a total of five UK secondees to the International Civilian Organisation at an estimated cost of £377,000. We have one UK secondee to OMIK at a cost of around £70,000 per annum.

Kosovo: Diplomatic Service

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials are based at the UK Embassy in Kosovo; to which departments they are attached; and whether there are any posts unfilled.

Jim Murphy: 11 UK-based officials are posted to our embassy in Pristina. All are Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff. There are currently no posts unfilled.

Kosovo: Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which areas the government of the Republic of Kosovo has requested assistance from his Department in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: We are in regular contact with the government of Kosovo, both bilaterally through our embassy in Pristina and in appropriate multilateral forums. We have provided extensive advice and assistance on a range of issues over the last 12 months including in areas such as government accountability, international co-operation and co-ordination, rule of law, stability and conflict prevention, and jobs and growth. We continue to support the government of Kosovo as it builds the strong institutions it will need to achieve the stability and prosperity all her people deserve.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal basis is of the  (a) UNMIK,  (b) EULEX and (c) ICO missions in Kosovo; and how long each lasts.

Jim Murphy: UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 (1999) authorises the UN Secretary-General, with the assistance of relevant international organisations, to establish an international civilian presence in Kosovo and authorises that presence to maintain civil law and order, including through the deployment of international police personnel. The UN Mission in Kososvo (UNMIK) continues to operate under this legal basis. The provisions of UNSCR 1244 (1999) remain in place until the Security Council decides otherwise.
	The EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) has deployed to Kosovo in response to an invitation from the government in Kosovo for a police and rule of law mission in accordance with the UN Special Envoy's Comprehensive Settlement Proposal. EULEX is established under Title V of the Treaty on European Union. In co-operation with UNMIK, EULEX will take on part of the role envisaged in UNSCR 1244 (1999) for the international civilian presence and it accordingly also draws upon the authority of that resolution. The European Council's Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP of 4 February 2008, which established EULEX, states that the European Council shall evaluate, not later than six months after the start of the operational phase, whether EULEX should be extended.
	The International Civilian Office (ICO) operates on the basis of an invitation from the Government of Kosovo in accordance with the UN Special Envoy's Comprehensive Settlement Proposal. The Proposal provides for a review of the ICO's operations after two years.

Kosovo: Recognition of States

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have recognised the Republic of Kosovo; and what steps he is taking to assist the government of Kosovo to increase the number.

Jim Murphy: At the time of writing 43 countries have recognised the Republic of Kosovo, including 20 in the EU and seven of the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations (G8). The UK is taking opportunities as they arise in bilateral discussions and multilateral forums, working closely with like-minded international partners and alongside the government of Kosovo, to encourage further recognition.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to assist the peace process between Israel and Palestine; and what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli and Palestinian governments on the matter.

Kim Howells: holding answer 21 July 2008
	The UK provides strong political support to the peace process urging both sides to negotiate towards a two-state solution and to put a stop to their actions which undermine it. In particular, we urge the parties to address the restrictions that Israel imposes on the movement and access of Palestinians and the ongoing violent attacks perpetrated by Palestinian militants against Israel.
	My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have visited the region recently and we are in frequent contact with both authorities in order to do what we can to encourage a robust peace resolution.
	We also provide assistance to the Palestinian Authority to develop their governance structures, economy and security efforts. A viable economy and a reliable security force are the integral foundations of any future Palestinian state.

Saudi Arabia: Prisoners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Saudi Arabia on the case of Muhammad Geloo, detained without charge in Saudi Arabia; what progress has been made in securing Mr. Geloo's release; what contacts British consular officials have had with Mr. Geloo during his detention; what reports on the case he has received from HM Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; what steps he has taken in response to reports that Mr. Geloo has been tortured during his detention; when he expects Mr. Geloo's case to be heard before a court; and if he will visit Saudi Arabia to discuss Mr. Geloo's case with the Saudi government.

Kim Howells: We have made regular representations to the Government of Saudi Arabia, including by our ambassador in Riyadh, regarding the fact that Mr. Geloo has been held without charge. We will continue to do so. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this case during his trip to Saudi Arabia on 22 April. The Saudi authorities have told us that they intend to charge Mr. Geloo and that they are operating within Saudi law. We do not know when Mr. Geloo's case is expected to be heard before a court.
	We are in regular contact with Mr. Geloo and his family and are providing them with appropriate consular assistance.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's role in cases of British nationals detained overseas is one of welfare. We cannot comment on the veracity of any charges brought against British nationals overseas and we are unable to interfere in the judicial processes of another country. Our own processes are similarly protected. We take allegations about torture very seriously. With the individual's permission, we can take up any justified complaint about ill treatment, personal safety or discrimination with the authorities in question.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the causes of the escalation in violence between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In our view, the substantial threat which Sri Lanka faces from domestic terrorism and the Sri Lankan Government's abrogation of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, in favour of a policy of military suppression of terrorism, have been major contributory factors to the current levels of violence. The UK's view is that military action alone cannot resolve the conflict; the violence is too high a price for the people of Sri Lanka. Inclusive political negotiations need to take place for a just settlement that can satisfy the legitimate aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka and promote democracy, stability and the observance of internationally accepted human rights principles.
	During his visit to Sri Lanka, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, reiterated the UK's concerns to the Sri Lankan Government.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to inform the public that Exceptional Assistance Measures for terrorist incidents overseas will not be available to UK citizens travelling abroad without travel insurance.

David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website has been updated and a new version of the publication 'Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide' will reflect these policy changes.
	We will continue to work with our partners through the 'Know Before You Go' campaign. This is a joint venture with the travel industry aimed at ensuring British travellers are better prepared when they go overseas, to ensure that the public are fully aware of the need to take out comprehensive travel insurance.
	For further information on Exceptional Assistance Measures, I refer the right hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's (Meg Munn), written ministerial statement of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 41WS.
	The level of support that might be required if the Exceptional Assistance Measures are activated will be determined by the particular circumstances of the incident, and for this reason the measures remain flexible. Under the measures, the FCO can provide immediate support to British nationals in the country where the incident occurred and to assist their return to the UK, but often victims of major incidents overseas, or their families, need ongoing help after they return to the UK. To address this we have a working agreement with the Humanitarian Assistance Unit in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who will work with the relevant agencies and services to help victims and their families access the ongoing support they need.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese government encouraging that government to participate fully in the eighth round of talks between its representatives and those of the Dalai Lama.

Meg Munn: We have consistently emphasised to the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and London, that the political difficulties in Tibet can best be resolved through dialogue between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did this when he met the Chinese Foreign Minister on 12 June. We are pleased that the two sides have restarted the process of dialogue, meeting in Shenzhen in May and again in Beijing from 1-2 July. We look forward to the eighth round of talks taking place as soon as possible and hope this will lead to substantive progress on the issues involved.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what fiduciary risk assessment he has undertaken of the debts and liabilities of the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office carries out an annual economic review of the Turks and Caicos Islands, along with a number of other overseas territories. This assesses the state of the public finances, including the ability of the government to service its debt. The most recent review expressed concerns about the public finances, which I have communicated to the government, saying that improvements need to be made. In addition, the Turks and Caicos Islands also has an independent chief auditor, appointed by the Governor. Accounts are audited in accordance with local ordinance and laid before the House of Assembly. Audit reports, some of which have been critical of the government, are discussed by the Turks and Caicos Islands public accounts committee.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of  (a) the budget of the Turks and Caicos Islands and  (b) the sustainability of the (i) current debt, (ii) fiscal claims and (iii) contingent liabilities in respect of the Islands' administration.

Meg Munn: The Turks and Caicos Islands constitution allows its government to set its own annual budget. The 2008-09 budget was presented to the House of Assembly in April this year and was debated over a number of days before it was passed. The UK does not interfere in the budgetary process but has agreed borrowing guidelines with the Turks and Caicos Islands government, which limit the level of debt that it can incur.
	We do have concerns about the sustainability of the level of government debt, including particularly the level of reserve funds, and I have made this clear to the Turks and Caicos Islands government. I have stressed to the government the importance of improving its public financial management and rebuilding its reserves before any additional borrowing can be permitted. We have also encouraged the government to act on the findings of its own audit reports, which include recommendations on fiscal claims.

Venezuela: Drugs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Venezuela on international drug trafficking.

Kim Howells: The former Minister of State for Latin America, my noble Friend Lord Triesman, held useful discussions with the Venezuelan Minister for Europe in June 2007 on the importance of tackling together the flow of cocaine through Venezuela. I held discussions on the issue during my visit to Venezuela in October 2006.
	Officials from our embassy in Caracas, including our ambassador, continue to hold discussions with Venezuelan interlocutors to explore how our governments can work together to reduce the harm caused to both countries by drug trafficking, along the lines of the informal UK-Venezuela bilateral action plan signed in June 2007.

Zimbabwe: Embassies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 34WS, on diplomatic missions (non-domestic rates), what steps he is taking to ensure the payment of a business rates contribution by the Zimbabwean government.

Meg Munn: The Valuation Agency (VOA) of HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for billing and collection of National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR). We continue to work with the VOA to press all diplomatic missions to pay their NNDR bills. The VOA issued an updated statement to the embassy of Zimbabwe on 8 July requesting that the embassy pay the sums due, which amounted to £79,883.28.